WORKERS COMPENSATION Frequently Asked Questions

Report it as soon as possible. If your employer has a “Human Resources” or “Personnel” department, make your report there. Write down the date, time and the name of the person you made the report to. Tell your employer that you need to see a doctor. If you go to your own personal doctor, there may be problems getting that doctor paid. Contact us for further guidance.

This is the first question some clients ask us. But every person and every case is different. Without seeing medical records and expert reports, any answer to this question would be a guess.

Any kind of retaliation for a work comp claim is illegal and very rare. Most employers understand that employees need compensation, and they have an insurance company that handles work comp claims.

It depends on how long it takes your injuries to heal, and whether or not we need a trial. If we can negotiate a settlement, no trial is needed. In that case, everything should be resolved about 10 months after your discharge from medical treatment. If we need a trial, it can take many months longer.

A workers' compensation claim isn't quite the same as "suing." You can't generally sue for a work injury unless your employer committed "outrageous conduct." But that only happens rarely.

No! Any worker can make a claim, citizen or not. Injured workers who have no Social Security numbers can get a temporary number that lets them make a claim.